Can-opening device.



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CHARLES E. MOORE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CAN=OPENING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part et' Letters Patent No. 687,939, dated December 3, 1 901. Application iled June 12,1901. Serial No. 64,259. (No model.)

.T0 all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. MOORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Can- Opening Device, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to canopening devices which are permanently connected with the cans to which they are applied; and my primary object is to provide a device of this nature which is simple and cheap in construction and which is well adapted to its purpose.

My invention is illustrated in its preferred form in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a can equipped with my improved can-opener; Fig. 2, a broken horizontal section taken as indicated at line 2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3, a view of a detached cutting'device; Fig. 4, a View of a detached key or handle which is employed for Winding up a tape which serves to draw the cutting device around the top of the can Fig. 5, a broken view illustrating a modiiied form ofthe can-opener applied to a can 5 Fig. 6, a detached view of the cutter of said modification Fig. 7, a broken view showing a still further modiiication of the can-opening device, and Fig. 8 a detached view of the cutter of this modiiication..

The invention comprises a tape a, connected with a can A, a key or handle a', connected with the tape ct, and a cutter a2, connected with the key a and having a sharpened hooked point projecting through and sealed in the body of the can.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. l to 4, inclusive, there is employed a single band or tape which is soldered to the can at a point a3 and extends about the periphery of the can, adjacent to the upper end thereof, and is secured at its free end to the key a. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the key has a slotted shank which receives the end of the tape. In this construction the cutter o? has two curved prongs b b', which receive the shank of the key, said prongs being separated by a space b2 wide enough to receive the tape a. The prong b is some distance below the level of the point b3 of the cutter, so that said point will engage the body of the can close to the top.

In the modification of Figs. 5 and 6 there are employed two tapes c c', separated by a small space to accommodate a flat cutter o2, said cutter being perforated to receive the key c3.

In the modification of Figs. 7 and 8 there are employed a single tape CZ, a cutter d', and a key d2, the cutter being so formed that its point shall pass through the top wall of the can, while the body of the cutter bears upon the cylindrical surface of the can adjacent to the top. The base of the cutter is formed to admit a tape and permit the same to be wound upon the key.

In each construction the point of the cutter passes through a wall of the can and is hermetically sealed in place. Each key has its, shank split throughout its length, thereby permitting the key to be depressed to the position of the full lines in Fig. 1, the dotted lines indicating the position which the key occupies when it is pulled out for use in opening the can. The grip portion of the key is suitably curved or concaved to lie close to the can when the key is in its depressed position. In Figs. 5 and 7 the keys are shown in the position which they occupy preparatory t-o beginning the cutting operation.

The manner of use of the device will be readily understood. Preparatory to or at the time of lling the cans the can-opening de vice is applied thereto, the hook of the cutter passing through a wall of the can and being hermetically sealed in place. During han-v dling or shipment of the cans the keys are in a depressed position. When it is desired to open a can, the key is raised and then serves as a handle for winding the tape up, thereby drawingtheknifearoundthecan. Thehook, of course, is so fashioned as to prevent it from slipping out of place While it is being moved and caused to sever the tin. The tape is pref-v erably of tin and need only be soldered to the can lightly at one end, asy there is but little strainupon the solder, owing to the fact that the tape is Wrapped about the can.

Changes in minor details of construction Within the spirit of my invention may be made. Hence no limitation is to be under- 'stood from the foregoing detailed description eXcept as shall appear from the appended claims.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with a can of a flexible strip applied thereto, a cutter having connection with said strip and provided With a point passing through a Wall of the can, and means for Winding said flexible strip into a coil, thereby drawing upon said cutter.

2. The combination With a can of a flexible strip applied thereto adjacent to one end, a

' Winding device having a shank connected with said strip, and a cutter connected with said shank and having a point passing through a Wall of said can.

The combination with a can of a flexible strip applied thereto adjacent to one end thereof, a cutter, and a key having its shank connected with said cutter and said strip, said key being capable of being raised to permit its handle to Work freely over the top of the can.

4. The combination with a can of a exible strip secured at one end to the periphery of the can and passing about the can, a key connected with the free end of said strip, and a cutter connected with said key and having a point passing through a Wall of said can.

5. The combination with a can of two fiexible strips, each secured at one end to the periphery of the can and passing about the can-7 a cutter having a flat base lying between the free ends of said strips, and a key connected with said cutter and the free ends of said strips, substantially as described.

CHARLES E. MooRE.

In presence of WM. B. DAvIEs, ALBERT D. BACCI. 

